Image copyrightGebel al-Silsila ProjectImage caption
The remains of a small child were found along with linen used to mummify the corpse

Four intact child burials made more than 3,000 years ago are among a series of recent discoveries near the Egyptian city of Aswan, officials say.

One of the burials found by a Swedish-Egyptian team still had the linen used to mummify it, antiquities ministry head Dr Ayman Ashmawy said.

The burials date from Egypt's 18th dynasty (1549/1550-1292 BC).

Meanwhile an Egyptian-Austrian team discovered part of a cemetery and a Swiss team found a statue of a woman.

The burials were found by archaeologists at the Gebel al-Silsila site. One was a tomb carved into rock for a child aged between two and three. In addition to the mummy linen, organic material from the remains of a wooden coffin was also found.

Image copyrightGebel al-Silsila ProjectImage caption
The remains of a child aged between six and nine were found in a wooden sarcophagus

Objects including amulets and a set of pottery were found in both the second burial - for a child aged between six and nine in a wooden coffin - and the third - for a child between five and eight. The fourth burial was also for a child of between five and eight.

The new discovery would shed more light on burial customs as well as people's social, economic and religious life during the 18th dynasty, also known as the Thutmosid period. said Dr Maria Nilsson, head of the Swedish mission.

So far 69 tombs have been found at the Gebel al-Silsila site, less than half of which have been excavated, Dr Nilson told the BBC. Most of the excavated tombs had already been plundered during antiquity, she said.